Records collection chef keeps while first in England and Belgium (8)
I believe the answer is:
casebook
'records collection' is the definition.
(eg a doctor's records)
'chef keeps while first in england and belgium' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'while' could be 'as' (eg 'while I walked' means 'as I walked') and 'as' is located in the answer.
'england' could be 'e' and 'e' is found within the answer.
'belgium' could be 'b' (international vehicle registration code) and 'b' is found in the answer.
'chef' could be 'cook' (I've seen this in other clues) and 'cook' is found within the leftover letters.
No letters remain.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for casebook that I've seen before include "doctor fictitiously created for consultant" , "compiled by doctor for famous consultant" , "Doctor's written record" , "Where detailed written records are kept by, say, doctors" , "Record of work" .)